Vibration amplitude control system



June 29, 1943. c w, BAIRDI I 2,323,081

VIBRATION AMPLITUDE CONTROL SYSTEM 'Filed larch 28 1942 w Y VI L ,8 u [NI/ENTOR 7 P w IQ CLYDE W BAIRD, m E/ I [1.

U-LU I POWER SYSTEMS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VIBRATION AMPLITUDE CONTROL SYSTEM Clyde W. Baird, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Traylor Vibrator Company, a corporation of Colorado Application March 28, 1942, Serial No. 436,699

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a vibration amplitude control system and particularly to such a system including mechanism to adjust automatically the amplitude of vibration or the feed rate of a feeder so that it first operates at one preferably predetermined amplitude of vibration or feed rate for a predetermined time and then at any predetermined amplitude of vibration for a succeeding period of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved electron tube type of timing mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, the single figure constitutes a wiring diagram of the improved system and timing device comprising my invention.

Referring to said drawing, the power circuit is shown in heavy lines and the control circuit in light lines, said power circuit including a pair of power mains in and Ii which derive power from any source of alternating current such as a source of 110, 220 or 440 volts. Said power mains i and Ii are controlled by a switch such as a magnetic switch i2, the details of which are well known in the art. The power mains iii and H are connected to the primary of a power transformer IS, the secondary of which is connected to two power electronic tubes I4 and I5, which are preferably of the gaseous type, so that said tubes are connected to form a full wave rectifier, the output circuit thereof leading from the center tap of the secondary of transformer lit by way of conductor 16 and from the cathode or filaments of said tubes I4 and 15 through the center tap of the secondary of filament heating transformer IT for the filaments of tubes l4 and I5, by way of conductor 18. Said output circuit provided by conductors i6 and 18 lead through a protecting resistor l9 and ammeter 20 to a coil 2| which is preferably the direct current armature coil of a push pull type vibratory motor of a push pull type vibratory conveyor or the like. For example, the coil 2| may correspond with the coil 28 of the push pull motor illustrated'particularly in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 of the patent to John A. Traylor, No. 1,772,596, dated August 12, 1930. This particular patent illustrates the motor attached to a screen but such motors have been employed for a number of years by The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company of Columbus, Ohio, in connection with their push pull type vibratory conveyors as well as in connection with screens and other items.

Also connected across the power mains ill and II and controlled by switch I2 is a relay 22 having upper and lower normally closed contacts and intermediate normally open contacts, the functions of which will be described hereinafter.

The above described transformer I1 is connected across lines 23 and 2l which are energized from the same source of alternating current that energizes power mains l0 and II and are controlled by an appropriate switch not shown. In the operation of the system, conductors 23 and 24 are energized before switch I2 is closed, giving time for the filaments of tubes l4 and 15 to become heated and also to start in operation the timer, as hereinafter described in full detail.

The system includes an automatic amplitude control branch or leg so that the amplitude of vibration of the vibratory motor or conveyor is maintained substantially constant at any one of two pre-selected values depending upon which of two alternate connections are made, as hereinafter described in detail.

The automatic control of the amplitude of vibration is fundamentally the same as disclosed and claimed in my application for Vibration control apparatus, Serial No. 433,538, filed March 6, 1942.

It may be stated, however, that in the system disclosed in the instant application the frequency of vibration of the vibratory motor or conveyor is determined by the frequency of the alternating current which is supplied to the alternating current field coils thereof and is not determined by the natural period of vibration of the motor or conveyor as it is in my application, Serial No. 433,538. That is, I only employ the amplitude control feature of application Serial No. 433,538 in the instant case and do not employ the frequency control feature thereof.

I shall now describe this amplitude control construction. A magnetic pickup device 25 is provided which is controlled by the amplitude of vibration of said motor or conveyor and this pickup device may have the structure disclosed more completely in my application, Serial No. 297,622, entitled Vibrating apparatus control, filed October 2, 1939, now Patent No. 2,287,223, dated June 23, 1942, or it may have any other desired form so long as the voltage generated therein is proportional to the amplitude of vibration of said motor or conveyor of which coil 21 is a part.

The terminals of pickup 25 are connected to conductors 26 and 21 between which is connected a pair of rheostats 26 and 29 having variable taps 30 and 3I, respectively. Tap 30, associated with rheostat 28, is connected through the normally closed lower contacts of a magnetic switch or relay 32 by way of branch conductor 33 to one terminal of the primary winding of a stepup transformer 34, the other terminal of which primary winding is connected permanently to conductor 21. Tap 3|, associated with rheostat 29, is connected through the normally open upper contacts of said magnetic switch or relay 32 by way of branch conductor I35 to one terminal of said primary winding of transformer 34. It may be noted at this time that when relay or magnetic switch 32 is in its normal or deenergized position, as illustrated in the drawing, the voltage delivcred to the primary of transformer 34 will be determined by the position of tap 30 on rheostat 28 and this will produce one predetermined amplitude of vibration of the vibratory motor or conveyor. When the switch or relay 32 is energized, preferably for predetermined time intervals, the amplitude of vibration of the vibratory motor or conveyor will be determined by the po- &

rect current voltage which is proportional to the I voltage delivered to the primary of transformer 34. Likewise this voltage in resistor 39 is proportional to the voltage generated in the pickup 25 for each position of the relay 32 and for each position of the taps 30 and 3i. Obviously the voltage in resistor 39 will have a different value for each position of relay 32 and for each position of taps 30 or 3I assuming the same voltage is generated in the pickup 25. In this connection it is, of course, evident that tap 30 may be adjustable to determine the value at which the amplitude of vibration of the motor or conveyor is maintained constant by the automatic amplitude control system when relay 32 is deenergized and this adjustment may be over a wide range. Tap 3I performs a similar function when relay 32 is energized. The direct current voltage appearing on the terminals of resistor 39 is matched against 'a substantially constant direct current voltage in bucking relation thereto, so that the resulting voltage may be either zero or reverse polarity or direction and variable in amount in either direction to effect a phase shift of the grid of input alternating current voltage of the tubes I4 and I with respect to their plate or output circuit voltage as described in my application, Serial No. 433,538, above identified. To this end I provide a substantially constant source of direct current bucking voltage by means of full wave rectifier tube 40 energized from transformer 4I connected across conductors 23 and 24. The direct current output of rectifier tube 40 flows through conductor 42 having in circuit therewith a choke coil 43, resistor 44 and leading to one terminal of resistor 39, thence through substantially constant voltage determining gaseous discharge tube 45, the other terminal of which is connected by conductor 46 to the center tap of the secondary of transformer 4I. Such a system provides a substantially constant direct current voltage drop across the terminals of the gaseous discharge tube 45. One terminal of said tube 45 is connected to a terminal of resistor 39, as above stated, and the other terminal is extended by conductor 46 to the filaments or cathodes of tubes I4 and I5 by virtue of a connection to the center tap of transformer II. Connected across the free terminals of the resistor 39 and the tube 45 is a time delay circuit including a resistor 41, a resistor 48, having a variable tap 49 associated therewith and a condenser 50. Extending from the variable tap 49 is a conductor 5I which .-leads to a common terminal on the secondaries of transformers 52 and 53, the free terminals of which secondaries are connected through current limiting resistors to the grids of tubes I4 and I5, respectively. Also associated with the grid-cathode circuit of said tubes I4 and I5 are protecting condensers 54 and 55. The transformers 52 and 53 are energized in parallel from the conductors 23 and 24 through a phase shifting condenser 56 so that the voltages induced in the grid or input circuits of the tubes I4 and I5 are preferably lagging the plate, or cathodeplate, or output, alternating voltages applied to the tubes I4 and I5 b approximately degrees.

From the above description it is manifest that the cathode-grid, input or control circuit for each of the tubes I4 and I5 includes therein an alternating voltage which is normally lagging with respect to the output voltage as provided by transformers 52 and 53, respectively. Superposed on this is a direct current voltage determined by the voltage drop existing between conductors 36 and 46, or, in other words, across the free terminals of resistor 39 and tube 45.

When the amplitude of vibration of the vibratory motor or conveyor has a certain value, which value ha no particular significance, the voltage drop across resistor 39 will equal the voltage drop across tube 45 and since these voltages buck each other the D. C. voltage across conductors 33 and 46 will be zero. Under these conditions there will be no direct current voltage superposed on the alternating current voltage in the input circuit of each tube I4 and I5. This particular condition has no significance except for purposes of explanation as it doe not necessarily represent the condition of normal vibration. If the voltage developed across resistor 39 is greater than that developed across tube 45, conductor 36 and consequently the grids of tubes I4 and I5 will be positive with respect to the filament in an amount determined by the amount the voltage drop across resistor 39 exceeds that across tube 45. Conversely, if the voltage drop across resistor 39 is less than that across tube 45, conductor 36 and consequently the grids of tubes I4 and I5 will be negative with respect to the filaments or cathodes thereof by an amount determined by the difference in these voltages.

This superposed D. C. voltage in a positive or negative sense, as determined from the grid, is effective to shift the normal 90 degrees lagging phase relation between the input and output volt ages of the tubes I4 and I5 and the amount 01' the shift is determined by the value of the resulting superposed D. C. voltage. When the grid is made positive, the shift will be to bring the grid and alternating current plate voltages more in phase and thus increase the current flow to the winding 2|. Conversely, if th resulting D. C. voltage is negative on the grids, the input voltage will be more out of phase with the output or plate voltage and thus decrease the current flow to the winding 2|. It is evident that for any position of the switch 32 and the tape II or U. whichever is in control at the moment, a stable condition will be realized and whatever conditions are necessary so that upon an increas in the amplitude of vibration of the motor or conveyor the resulting voltage developed in the pick up 25 will tend to decrease said amplitude of vibration and a decrease in the amplitude of vibration of said motor or conveyor will cause such a decrease in the voltage generated in pickup 25 as to increase the current flow to said windin 2|. Theeirect of the time delay circuit including resistors 41 and 43 and condenser ll is to smooth out rapid variations in voltages which may be developed in resistor 32. Variable tap 49 is provided so as to make available a variable amount of the resulting diflerential D. C. voltage developed between conductors 33 and It, as above described.

A conductor 51 is connected between resistors 41 and 48 and leads to conductor. through the upper contacts of relay 22 which are closed except when relay 22 is energized. In other words, when the system is first started and when conductors 23 and 2d are energized the transformer I3 is not yet energized and when the system is mary connected across lines 28 and 21, is energiaed and relay 22 is deenergized with its upper' and lower contacts in circuit closing position. Consequently at this time the voltage on the secondary of transformer Cl is applied to the grid-cathode circuits of two vacuum tubes 02 and 33, which tubes have in the grid circuits condensers N and 85, respectively, around which are provided shunt resistors 68 and 61, respectively, which may be formed by resistors of variable value to determine the discharging time of said condensers 84 and 65 at predetermined variable values. Protecting resistors 63 and 69 are shut down, conductor 51 will be connected to con- .it and maintain it in such a condition until relay 22 is energized as it will be when the system is thrown into full operation by energization of magnetic switch l2.

In certain installations, particularly for vibra-' tory feeders or conveyors, it has been found desirable to operate the feeder or conveyor at a relatively high rate of vibration for a predetermined period of time, then to reduce the vibration and operate ii; at a reduced rate for another predetermined period of time and then return to the first or high rate of vibration for the first predetermined interval of time and possibly continue this through a number of cycles. In. the apparatus which I have provided, this type of control is automatically eifected and in the particular embodiment of the invention which I have illustrated, not only is this amplitude of vibration varied cyclically, as above outlined, but the amplitude at which the feeder operates during each predetermined period is maintained substantially constant during that period at a preselected value and in the fullest realization of my invention, this characteristic prevail though in broader aspects it is not essential.

As one aspect of my invention I have provided an improved timer which includes as a part-thereof the previously described relay or magnetic switch 32, which timer i indicated as a whole by the reference character I. and is contained within the dotted line outline seen on the drawing. It is, of course, evident that in certain aspects of the invention any desired type of timer may be employed to operate the contacts associated with the switch 32 but in the full realization of my invention in its mostcomplete aspect. the system includes the particular timer II which I shall now describe.

During the initiation of the operation of the system, conductors 23 and 24 are energized before relay 22 is energized, as above mentioned. At this time transformer II, which has its prialso connected in the grid circuits of tubes 82 and. 83, respectively. During this period, the control grids of saidtubes 62 and 33 act as anodes or plates and the electron flow from the cathodes of said tubes 62 and 63 are effective to charge the condensers 84' and 35 so that after a predetermined time said condensers are fully charged so that they present a negative bias on said grids to prevent a current flow through said tubes 32 and 83 until said condensers i4 and I! are discharged through resistors 66 and 61, respectively, at a predetermined time interval as determined by the value of said resistors, which time interval may be varied by varying their values. These charging circuits for the condensers N and may be traced from the secondary of transformer ii as follows: The lower terminal of the secondary of transformer 6| leads by way of conductor II to oneterminal of each of the condensers 84 and 65, the other terminals of which condenser are connected to the control grids of said tubes 62 and 63 through resistors 63 and 33, respectively. The cathode of tube 82 is connected to the other terminal of the second-' ary of transformer Si by way of conductor Ii, normally closed bottom contacts of relay 22 and conductor 12. Thus the control grid and cathode of tube 62 are connected across the terminals of the transformer 6i with the condenser 84 in series.

which extends by way of conductor 16 to the upper terminal of the secondary winding of transformer 6|. Thus when relay or switch 15 is in fits deenergized or normal condition, the circuit will be closed to energize the grid and cathode or input circuit of tube 83 to charge condenser 65. This condition exists until the magnetic switch I2 is closed and when it is closed the relay 22 is energized and its lower and upper contacts are opened and its intermediate contact closed. Since the input circuit of tube 62 by which condenser N was charged extends by way 01' conductors" and i2 and of lower contacts of relay 22,

this circuit will be broken when said relay 22 is energized and this happens when the vibratory motor or conveyor with which coil 2| is associated starts into operation. Under these conditions the "pre-selec'ted amplitude 0i vibration is preferably ing interval reaches its high amplitude of vibration where it is automatically maintained. When charging circuit for condenser 54, said condenser 64 immediately begins to discharge through resistor 66. After a predetermined time interval this charge leaks off to such an extent that the control grid of tube 62 is no longer sufficiently negative with respect to the cathode to prevent firin or conducting of tube 62 and current then flows through the output, plate or cathode-anode circuit of tube 62 through the output circuit which shall now be traced and which, it is to be particularly noted, includes intermediate contact of relay 22. Said plate circuit of tube 82 extends from the source of voltage provided by the secondary of transformer 8|, from the bottom terminal thereof by way of conductor 10 to branch conductor 19 which leads to the lower contact of a group of three contacts I8 associated with the relay or switch 15, which lower contact is normal in engagement of the central spring of group I8 and through said central spring to conductor 11 and through the now closed intermediat contacts of relay 22 to conductor II which is connected to the cathode of tube 52. The top terminal of the secondary winding of transformer II is connected to the plate or anode of tube 62 through conductor 18 and through the coil of a normally open relay 80 preferably having a condenser connected acrossits winding. When said tube 02 fires after said predetermined time. interval during which the motor is operating at its high rate of vibration and which predetermined time may be adjusted by adjusting the value of the resistor I or the condenser 04 or both, preferably, for example, by

replacing resistor it with resistors of variable value, the current flowing in the plate circuit of tube 82 just described will energize said relay II and close its normally open contacts. When this occurs the relays II and 32 are energized in parallel by being directed directly across conductors 28 and 24. The circuits for these two relays is as follows: From conductor 23 though conductor ti now closed contacts of relay ll, continuing through conductor II to the upper terminals of the windings of relays I2 and ll. The lower terminal ofthewindingofrelay 32isconneoteddirectly by conductor .2 to conductor 2d. The lower terminalofthewindingofrelayllisconnected by conductor it through the normally closed contactsofrelaylltoconductorubywayofaportion of conductor 02. The consequent flow of current through relays I2 and ll, of course, encrgiaestbeae relays andtomove their associated ccntactatotheirupperpositionswheretheyare maintained for a predetermined time interval, as hereinafter described.

Relay :2 in movingto its upper position effectively places rheostatfl in control of the amplitude of vibration of the motor or conveyor and. asabovestatedthlsisthelowconditionandthis condition is maintained for a predetermined time interval andpreferably ata n value by the amplitude controlmechanism, as above described. Relayorswitchliinoperating,movcs thccentcrspringsandthegroupaofcontacts'ld andltandalsothebottomspnngofagroupof twocontactsll. Thebreakingofthecontactsof group II disconnects the previmlsly'deacribed chargingcircuit for condenser aasociatedwlth hibeliandtlnscondenserbeginstodischarge thmghitaassociatedreaistorl'lataratewhich maybevariablydeterminedbyvaryingthevalue of resistor II, or condenser OI, orbuth, and after a predetermined time intervalthecontrolgridof h beflwillsoreduceitsncgatlveblasaatoperrelay 22 is energized as aforesaid, breaking the mit tube 63 to fire or become conductive to reset the system and restart the cycle of operation with the motor operating at its high position as hereinafter described more completely.

The switching of the center spring of the group of switches 18 from the bottom contact to the upper contact which was effective when relay 15 was energized again places the condenser 64 in its charging condition by connecting the cathode of tube 82 to the upper terminal of transformer 6|, the lower terminal of said transformer being permanently connected to the grid of said tube 62 .through said condenser 64, as above described. This circuit between the upper terminal of the secondary of transformer 5i and said cathode of said tube 62 may be traced as follows: From said upper terminal of transformer Si by conductor 16 to the now closed upper contact of switch group I8, then through the central spring thereof to conductor 11 through the now closed intermediate contact of relay 22, then by way of conductor H to said cathode of tube 82. This starts a. recharging of the condenser H for a repeat function of that previously described. At the upper contacts 85 the switch II closes the holding circuit for itself and for relay 32 when it is energized, which holding circuit extends from conductor 23 by way of conductor 88 t0 the now closed upper contacts 85 of switch IS, then through the coil of switch I! to conductor 83, through the normally closed contacts of relay ll to conductor 22 and then to 'or condenser I, or both, as above mentioned.

After the charge on condenser 05 has leaked of! to allow tube It to fire, it will do so and current will flow in its plate circuit and through the winding of relay I. which is preferably provided with a protecting condenser across its terminals. The plate or output circuit for tube It extends from the plate or anode through the winding of relay I to conductor II which is permanently connected to the upper terminal of transformer OI. The cathode of said tube it is now connected by way of conducto 13 to the central spring of group of contacts ll which is now in contact with the upper contact of this group which is eon-V nected'to conductor It leading to conductor II which is permanently connected to the lower terminal of the secondary winding of transformer ll. When tube It thus fires after said predetermined time interval, it energizes relay II which opens its normally closed contacts, thus breaking the holding circuit for relay II which is thereby deenergized and returns to its normal condition. when it returns to its normal condition it breaks the holding circuit for the winding of relay 22 through its contacts I! and said relay 32 returns to its normal or deenergized condition whereupon the vibratory conveyor or motor operates at its high predetermined rate of vibration which may be variably adjusted by adjusting the tap II. The entire system is thus restored to the condition which existed when rel'ay 22 was first energised and consequently the cycle of operation above described will repeat itself continuously until the system is shut down, as, for examplab opening the switch I2.

From the above description it is manifest that I have provided a very flexible and sensitive control system for a vibratory motor or feeder. For example, in operation, the vibratory motor or feeder is first caused to operate at one rate which rate is preferably but not necessarily maintained substantially constant at any. pre-selected value which may be variably adjusted over a wide range. This operation is maintained for a preselected time interval, which time interval may likewise be adjusted over a relatively wide range. Following said predetermined time interval the vibratory motor or conveyor will automatically operate at a different amplitude of vibration and this amplitude may be adjusted to any one of a plurality of different values. In the illustration given the motor first operates at a higher value for the first period than during the second period but this condition may be reversed. The time for the second period may be variably adjusted quite independently of the time of the first period and in one particular installation which I have made it was for'an appreciably longer period than the first period, although it may be either longer or shorter, entirely at the will of the operator.

The system is particularly adapted for controlling vibratory conveyors or feeders of well known construction known in the art as Traylorfeeders. It is obvious, however, that the system is not limited even to vibratory feeders or conveyors but may extend to various types of vibratory motors and may even be extended to rotary type feeders or conveyors, in which case the pickup device 25 might, for example, be a small generator, the speed of which would depend upon its speed of rotation. The timer mechanism i0 is obviously capable of general application.

It may also be stated that while I preferably provide automatic amplitude control mechanism as a feature of the invention, as this is particu larly useful for accurate control of the feed rate of the vibratory feeder. If desired, in certain broader aspects of the invention, this amplitude control may be omitted andif it is omitted the relay 32 will simply control resistors, reactors, or the like, in the control circuit of thevibratory or other feeder or conveyor.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and I therefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodistantially constant at either of two preselected values, and timer means operative automatically to maintain said feed rate atone of said values for a predetermined time and then change it to the other value, said timer means including relay means operable to two different positions, circuits including a pair of electron tubes adapted to be successively energized, the circuits being such that when one tube is energized the relay means is in one position and when the other is energized said relay means is in the other position, each tube including a grid circuit having a condenser therein which is charged while said tube is de-energized and after the charge leaks oil in a predetermined time said tube becomes energized to operate said relay means.

5. In an electrical system, an electromagnetic feeder having a motor, means responsive to the feed rate of said feeder for maintaining it sub- I stanti'ally constant at either of two preselected values, and timer means operative automatically to maintain said feed rate at one of said values means is in one position and when the other is mg a. normally open contact relay in one plate circuit and a ment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an electrical system, the combination with a vibratory motor, of means responsive to variations in the amplitude of vibration of said motor for maintaining said amplitude substan- 'tially constant at a predetermined value, and I electrical means for changing said amplitude to a diiferent predetermined value after a predetermined period.

2. In an electrical system, a feeder, and electrical timer means operative to change the normal feed rate thereof from one value to a different value after it has operated at said one value for a predetermined time. I

3. In an electrical system, the combination with a vibratory motor, of means responsive to.

variations in the amplitude of vibration, of

energised said relay means is in the other position.

8. A timer means including relay means operable to two different positions, circuits including a pair of electron tubes adapted to be successively energized, the circuits being such that when one tube is energized the relay means is in one position and when the other is energized said relay means is in the other position, each tube including a grid circuit having a condenser therein which is charged while said tube is de-' energized and after the charge leaks oil in a predetermined time said tube becomes energized to operate said relay means.

7. An electronic timer comprising a pair of electron tubes having control grids or the equivalent, a circuit for the plates of said tubes includi'iormally closed contact relay in the other, relay means including a switch controlled by the combined action of said two re-.

lays, said switch having one position when both of said relay contacts are closed and another when either is open, and-means to successively energize the plate circuits of said tubes, at least ,one for a predetermined time interval, said means including said relay means and also in.- cluding chargeable condensers in the grid circuits of said tubes. v

8. An electronic timer comprising a pair of electron tubes having control grids or the equivalent, a circuit for the plates of said tubes including a normally openv contact relay in one plate circuit and a normally closed contact relay in the other, relay means including a switch controlled by the combined action of said two relays, said switch having one position when both 01' said relay contacts are closed and another when either is open, and means to successively energize the plate circuits of said tubes, said means including said relay means and also includlng chargeable condensers in the grid circuits 0! said tubes.

9. An electronic timer comprising a pair of electron tubes having control grids or the equivalent, a circuit for the plates of said tubes including a normally open contact relay in one plate circuit and a normally closed contact relay in the other, relay means including a switch controlled by the combined action of said two relays, said switch having one position when both of said relay contacts are closed and another when either is open, and means to successively energize the plate circuits of said tubes, at least one for a predetermined time interval.

10. An electronic timer comprising a pair of electron tubes having control grids or the equivalent, a circuit for the plates of said tubes in cluding a normally open contact relay in one plate circuit and a normally closed contact relay in the othen reiay means including a switch controlled by the combined action oi said two relays, said switch having one position when both of said relay contacts are closed and an other when either is open, and means to suceessively energize the plate circuits of said tubes.

CLYDE W. BAIRD. 

